Windows USB drivers explained

Most USB devices need no download. Microsoft ships class drivers for audio, storage, keyboards and mice, printers, cameras and hubs, and they come through Windows Update. A device with a vendor specific interface, such as a serial converter or special adapter, may need the maker's own driver.

Download from learn.microsoft.com

Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.

The short version

What to install and where it comes from. Every link goes to the manufacturer or Microsoft, never to a copy.

USB storageUsbstor.sys, built in
Keyboards and miceHidclass.sys and Hidusb.sys, built in
USB audioUsbaudio.sys, built in
USB camerasUsbvideo.sys, built in
Vendor specific devicesOften need the maker's driver or WinUSB
USB Device Class Drivers Included in Windows (Microsoft)learn.microsoft.comFix USB-C problems in Windows (Microsoft)support.microsoft.comUpdate drivers through Device Manager in Windows (Microsoft)support.microsoft.com

Official files only, nothing bundled

Step by step

  1. Plug the device into a port on the PC

    Avoid hubs and docks for the test. Microsoft advises connecting directly where possible when you have USB trouble.

  2. Watch Device Manager

    Open Device Manager. A working device appears under its class, such as Keyboards, Portable Devices or Sound, video and game controllers. A failed one shows a yellow mark or Unknown USB Device.

  3. Read the error code

    Open the device's Properties and read Device status. Microsoft says Code 28 means drivers for the device are not installed.

  4. Let Windows look, then the maker

    Run Windows Update. If the device is not a standard class, get the driver from the device maker and install it with the maker's setup file.

  5. Check the controller

    If every USB device fails, look under Universal Serial Bus controllers and get the chipset and USB drivers from your PC or board maker.

Built-in USB class drivers

USB devices announce a class code in their firmware. Windows reads it and loads Microsoft’s matching class driver, with no extra download. Microsoft’s table lists drivers such as Usbaudio.sys for audio, Usbstor.sys for storage, Usbprint.sys for printers, Usbvideo.sys for cameras and Usbhub.sys for hubs. Microsoft says these installation files sit in the Windows driver store and are updated through Windows Update.

USB controller drivers

The ports on a PC are run by a host controller. Device Manager lists them under Universal Serial Bus controllers, with hubs next to them. They load without your help on nearly every PC, and Microsoft has a separate hub driver for SuperSpeed hubs, Usbhub3.sys. A controller driver from the board or chipset maker is only worth chasing when many ports misbehave at once.

When a device needs its own driver

A device with a vendor specific interface has no class driver. Microsoft recommends WinUSB for these, and makers often ship an installer. Common cases are serial converters, some Wi-Fi adapters and specialist hardware. Our CH340, NETGEAR A6210 and TP-Link pages show the pattern: find the maker, match the model, install before use. Microsoft also says a class driver may not support every feature, so a maker may add a supplementary driver.

Questions

Do I need to download a USB driver for a flash drive?

No. Microsoft's Usbstor.sys manages USB mass storage devices, and the drivers are in Windows already.

What is a USB controller driver?

It runs the USB ports themselves, apart from the devices on them. Names in Device Manager include USB Root Hub and a host controller. Your PC or board maker supplies updates.

Why does a serial adapter need a driver?

Vendor specific devices have no standard class, so Windows needs a matching driver. See our driver pages for the chip makers.

Is a USB 3.0 driver separate?

Microsoft has a separate hub driver, Usbhub3.sys, for SuperSpeed hubs on an xHCI controller. It comes with Windows.